CVE-2014-3472 in JBoss Enterprise Application Platform
Summary
by MITRE
The isCallerInRole function in SimpleSecurityManager in JBoss Application Server (AS) 7, as used in Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform (JBEAP) 6.3.0, does not properly check caller roles, which allows remote authenticated users to bypass access restrictions via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/28/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3472 resides within the SimpleSecurityManager component of JBoss Application Server version 7 and its corresponding Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 6.3.0 release. This security flaw specifically targets the isCallerInRole function which serves as a critical access control mechanism within the application server's security framework. The vulnerability represents a significant weakness in the authorization process that governs how the system determines whether authenticated users possess the necessary privileges to access protected resources or perform sensitive operations. The flaw manifests when the security manager fails to properly validate caller roles, creating a potential pathway for malicious actors to circumvent intended access controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the isCallerInRole function's logic. When an authenticated user attempts to access restricted functionality, the system should verify that the user's assigned roles align with the required permissions for the requested operation. However, the flawed implementation allows for improper role checking that can be manipulated through unspecified vectors. This weakness creates a scenario where legitimate authentication credentials can be used to bypass authorization checks, effectively granting unauthorized access to protected system components. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it fundamentally undermines the application server's security model and trust boundaries.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses substantial risks to organizations utilizing affected JBoss Application Server versions. Remote authenticated users who can establish sessions within the application environment can exploit this flaw to gain access to restricted administrative functions, sensitive data, or critical system resources. The implications include potential data breaches, system compromise, and unauthorized modifications to application configurations. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, access confidential information, or perform operations that should be restricted to authorized administrators only. The remote nature of the attack vector means that threat actors do not require physical access to the system, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in networked environments.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues, and represents a classic example of insufficient authorization checking within enterprise application platforms. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this weakness maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and lateral movement within compromised environments. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches and updates, reviewing and strengthening access control policies, and monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns. Additional defensive measures include implementing network segmentation, enabling comprehensive logging and monitoring of access control events, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar authorization flaws. The remediation process should involve thorough testing of updated security configurations to ensure that legitimate access controls remain functional while the vulnerability is addressed.